Chelters 2016 Antepost bets

[MrMcGoldrick]

I'm trying to cover the Ricci combos early for next year and this is my latest
Douvan, Arkle
Faugheen, Champ hdle
Vautour, QM
Vroum Vroum Mag, Ryanair
Annie Power, World hdle
Djakadam, Gold cup.
I'll be watching the Punchestown festival with interest too because it was that last year which put me onto Faugheen for the Champion hurdle, it will be interesting to see where they go with Vautour, I'm sure Ricci would rather see it run against one of Mullins under different ownership than against one of his own. I know it's very early days but get these right and this time next year we'll be miwionaires Rodders

[Old Vic]

Champagne Fever to drop in there somewhere ?

Going to be clues at Aintree too.

Melling would be an obvious race for Champagne Fever next ?

VVM might go to Aintree too looking at last quotes.

Annie could go there and Punchestown reading some of Rubys comments.

Pretty sure Pat Keane mentioned Vautour going to Aintree too. (I think he ghostwrites Rubys examiner column.

Mullins could finish runner up in GB Trainers championship if he aims them all at Aintree.

[MrMcGoldrick]

That's right OV, I love looking for clues well in advance, I know many think it's far too early but this is the type of thing that got me onto Faugheen at 6/1 for this years champ, by the time the fez gets close the fancy prices are a distant memory, plus it's more fun looking forward to the next one than trying to sort out a lot of the flat dross they serve up. Even the big flat meetings don't get me that excited, they certainly don't match up to the top jumps meetings to me, especially when they give over serious air time to fashion gurus, what a bunch of useless lip flapping waste's of skin they are, and who the hell cares, whether the in colour is a dusky blue or an exciting green, [ffs], and they only need their big hats to hide their big heads.

[Old Vic]

That's right OV, I love looking for clues well in advance, I know many think it's far too early but this is the type of thing that got me onto Faugheen at 6/1 for this years champ, by the time the fez gets close the fancy prices are a distant memory, plus it's more fun looking forward to the next one than trying to sort out a lot of the flat dross they serve up. Even the big flat meetings don't get me that excited, they certainly don't match up to the top jumps meetings to me, especially when they give over serious air time to fashion gurus, what a bunch of useless lip flapping waste's of skin they are, and who the hell cares, whether the in colour is a dusky blue or an exciting green, [ffs], and they only need their big hats to hide their big heads.

I am much the same about it MMG. I will watch a few Royal Ascot races ( l like the Gold Cup aka the bumper ) and then take a break until Galway. Leave it again from then until Listowel and then keep powder dry until showcase meeting.

I have learned to really enjoy the spell from Cheltenham until end of Punchestown. Some serious jumps racing left this year.

[shoods]

I am much the same about it MMG. I will watch a few Royal Ascot races ( l like the Gold Cup aka the bumper ) and then take a break until Galway. Leave it again from then until Listowel and then keep powder dry until showcase meeting.

I have learned to really enjoy the spell from Cheltenham until end of Punchestown. Some serious jumps racing left this year.

like both codes but favour nh love cheltenham went for tues wed this year fantastic hope you can find another faugheen mr m still think its a bit early myself

[MrMcGoldrick]

An ew double that I also like the look of is
Peace and co champ hurdle 8/1
Uxizandre QM 25/1
Place double pays over 20/1,

[Istabraq]

Thanks fellas, I loves me long range Chelters bets so I'll have a dabble on that

I'm sure it's a debate that's been done to death on this forum but the bigger festival makes this dangerous, and it's a shame because I too used to love watching horses run in bumpers and start backing them at prices for the following seasons Supreme, or this seasons novices in next years championship races.
Second guessing Mullins is nigh on impossible - I've managed to back Champagne Fever ante post in the wrong race the last 3 festivals and, just a personal view, they've messed about with the horse to suit racing plans of others in the yard.
The horse should never have won a Supreme, he should have been in the Potato race that year but they had Ballycasey decalred for that only for him to be lame on the day or at worst in the Neptune but they had Pont Alexandre, he should never have run in the Arkle but they had Ballycasey in the RSA and Felix Younger in the JLT.
Everyone tells me the horse didn't stay in the King George and he will be dropped back in trip, the horse spent a mile pulling Ruby's arms out their socket, he just didn't settle, I have no doubts the horse stays 3m and possible the Gold Cup trip but I'll never know.
He's a shoo in to be aimed at whatever Vatour and Don Poli isn't.
Rant over !

[mayo]

Good man Istabraq - we love a good rant around here.

Mullins does my head in.

[Istabraq]

LOL, I'm afraid I've got plenty more !

Only AP bet I like for 2016 is Arctic Fire in the Champion Hurdle.
His mistake at the last was costly this year and I think he would have gone very very close had he not missed it, this is the only race he can be aimed at and I really don't see Faugheen and Douvan being aimed at the race.
The New One doesn't appear the same force of old, The Fly will be a year nearer retirement and Jezki ran no sort of race this year so can't be backed with any real confidence, the 12s on AF I think is OK....

[MrMcGoldrick]

LOL, I'm afraid I've got plenty more !

Only AP bet I like for 2016 is Arctic Fire in the Champion Hurdle.
His mistake at the last was costly this year and I think he would have gone very very close had he not missed it, this is the only race he can be aimed at and I really don't see Faugheen and Douvan being aimed at the race.
The New One doesn't appear the same force of old, The Fly will be a year nearer retirement and Jezki ran no sort of race this year so can't be backed with any real confidence, the 12s on AF I think is OK....

Interesting that Isti, why wouldn't Faugheen be aimed at the champion hurdle, I would agree about Douvan I already have him in my Ricci multiples for the Arkle. I would have thought Arctic Fire would be the one rather than Faugheen to be wary of regarding the race given that he has much more experience than Faugheen but still couldn't beat him this year, and you mention AF's mistake at the last but don't forget Faugheen made a howler that would have put paid to any other horse's chance in a championship race. By next year with a lot more schooling, and experience, under his belt it's hard to see anything getting near Faugheen. Then there is the question of where else would they go with him, which race could they target that's bigger then the champion hurdle, I don't think Ricci needs another potential Gold cup horse at the mo, he'll already be in discussions about how to keep his horses apart and still have a chance of mopping up at next years fez. I think this was AF's chance to win the champ hurdle, so he would be the one I would expect to be considered for an alternative target, plus there are potentially other higher quality challengers for next year already than this.

[Istabraq]

Interesting points Mr M.
I guess more worrying for AF is that he's since followed up that mistake with a fall, plenty for Mullins to work on me thinks.
At 12s though I think he's a price, I can't think of 3 more likely candidates so it would seem an each way steal but I guess plenty can happen in the next 48 weeks.

I guess the curve ball may be the '28th race' - many believe a 2m 4f graded hurdle is the missing link but I guess if this was created it would dilute the Champion Hurdle, also.
I may be wrong but don't new races have to be G2 for 3 years before converting to G1 ?
For what it's worth I'd like to see a veterans chase given that 10yo+ have great difficult winning a chase at the festival

[MrMcGoldrick]

Interesting points Mr M.
I guess more worrying for AF is that he's since followed up that mistake with a fall, plenty for Mullins to work on me thinks.
At 12s though I think he's a price, I can't think of 3 more likely candidates so it would seem an each way steal but I guess plenty can happen in the next 48 weeks.

I guess the curve ball may be the '28th race' - many believe a 2m 4f graded hurdle is the missing link but I guess if this was created it would dilute the Champion Hurdle, also.
I may be wrong but don't new races have to be G2 for 3 years before converting to G1 ?
For what it's worth I'd like to see a veterans chase given that 10yo+ have great difficult winning a chase at the festival

I think a veterans race is a good idea, they could have it instead of the charity race, or is that just being uncharitable. The other idea of a 2m 4f hurdle has been mooted several times and will probably happen at some stage but I can imagine it being like the Ryanair in as much as the 2m champion events will overshadow the newer races as Cheltenham is big on tradition. It's this that convinces me that Ricci will want Vautour in the QM next year and not the Ryanair, it's all about the kudos. I acknowledge there is the possibility of Vautour being aimed at the Gold cup but why take on Djakadm in the same colours, depending of course on how they all hold their form into next season, it's all about debate, and making shedloads of dosh.

[Istabraq]

A real possibility that, but from what I hear Champagne Fever will be aimed at the QM, and I don't see them pitching CF against Vatour.
And, another personal view, the way Vatour destroyed his JLT field I fully expect that one to be a Gold Cup horse so if he were mine I'd be aiming him at 3m races next Autumn, a crack at the King George then made a decision on whether he will stay the GC trip.

I think Vatour is a proper horse, I seriously hope they don't prevent that one from running in the right races because they have others booked.....

[Faugheen_Machine]

I agree totally. Although I profited from Faugheen at this years festival, I usually back a lot of WPM non runners in the lead up to the festival.

The one race I don't want to see added to the festival is a 2m 4f hurdle. It would be a disaster for ante post punters and national hunt enthusiasts. i want to see the best horses running against each other and adding this race would inevitably stop the from happening.

[Istabraq]

Mr M - that is definitely the plan for the festival, the charity race is no more and will be replaced by proper race, they haven't yet announced what that race will be.
I'm sure they'll find some other way of fund raising for charity during the week - I remember a few years ago they used to have greyhound racing up the straight before racing so maybe some form of charity event before racing as opposed to tacking it onto the end of the day.

FM - I entirely agree, though I am a converted fan of both the Ryanair and JLT and being intermediate trips they have both taken runners from the CH/GC and RSA/JLT.
I'm not convinced it would be a disaster for NH enthusiasts but it would probably finish off ante post punting for the fesival altogeher, some horses get half a dozen entries as it is !